Beaumont's 135-foot Alligator

Big Beau

Beaumont's newest roadside attraction lives up to the famous mantra, "Everything is bigger in Texas." Move over Big Tex, meet Big Beau. A project of Gator Country, Big Beau can be found right off Interstate 10 between Houston and Beaumont on the westbound feeder road at Exit 838. He's located on the grounds of Gator Country (21159 FM 365), but can also be accessed via the feeder road.

Big Beau measures in at 135-feet long and roughly 30 feet tall. Constructed by Gator Country in Beaumont owner, Gary Saurage, and his crew, the alligator took six months to complete. He's made of wood, metal siding & framing and rubber.

Visiting Gator Country

While visiting Big Beau, we definitely recommend you make your way into Gator Country. The park has over 500 alligators and 4 species of crocodiles along with Caimans, alligator snapping turtles, snakes and other reptiles. It is also home to two of the largest alligator in captivity in Texas, "Big Tex" and "Big Al". Certified by Texas Parks & Wildlife, they both weigh in around 1,000 pounds and almost 14 feet in length. If live gators are your thing, they're definitely the main attraction.

Gator Country also serves up a visitor experience like no place else. During the park's educational shows, guests see the lifespan of an alligator and even get the chance to get up close and personal with hands-on interactions such as feeding and swimming with live alligators. Show times are 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm.

Since alligators are hibernating animals, we recommend you call ahead or view park hours here to ensure Gator Country is open as their hours are seasonal.

Beaumont's newest roadside attraction lives up to the famous mantra, "Everything is bigger in Texas." Move over Big Tex, meet Big Beau.

A project of Gator Country Adventure Park, Big Beau can be found right off Interstate 10 between Houston and Beaumont on the westbound feeder road at Exit 838. He's located on the grounds of Gator Country (21159 FM 365), but can also be accessed via the feeder road.

Big Beau measures in at 135-feet long and roughly 30feet tall. Constructed by Gator Country owner, Gary Saurage, and his crew, the alligator took six months to complete. He's made of wood, metal siding & framing and rubber.

While visiting Big Beau, we definitely recommend you make your way into Gator Country. The park has over 300 alligators and 4 species of crocodiles along with Caimans, alligator snapping turtles, snakes and other reptiles. It is also home to the largest alligator in captivity in Texas, "Big Al". Certified by Texas Parks & Wildlife, Big Al weighs in at 1,000 pounds and almost 14 feet in length. If live gators are your thing, he's definitely the main attraction.

Hands-on Visitor Experience.

Gator Country also serves up a visitor experience like no place else. During the park's educational shows, guests see the lifespan of an alligator and even get the chance to get up close and personal with hands-on interactions such as feeding and swimming with live alligators. Show times are 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm.

Since alligators are hibernating animals, we recommend you call ahead or view park hours here to ensure Gator Country is open as their hours are seasonal.

Rivers, bayous, marshes, the Gulf of Mexico, salt - and freshwater lakes. The communities of Southeast Texas grew up around water. Our area offers some of best fishing on the Gulf Coast with plenty of shore fishing, boat launches and fishing charters. You can also kayak the region's multiple paddling trails or venture offshore into the Gulf. But if you're looking for the best way to get up…Continue Reading

I come from a family of nature and art lovers. My mom loves horses and taking pictures of wildlife. My dad could spend all day snorkeling in the beautiful waters off the coast of Florida. My grandma has been known to hand draw personalized cards for my kids. So, when my Aunt Sharon talked about her frequent visits out to Cattail Marsh , I wasn’t surprised that she had fallen in love with the…Continue Reading

Shopping for mom, outdoor goodies for dad and fun activities for the kids: it’s a summer weekend in Beaumont packed with action for everyone in the family. “His and Hers Weekend” at Ford Park is a combination of the popular Peddler Show summer market and the Southeast Texas Great Outdoors Expo, where couples and families can shop together and there is plenty planned for the kids…Continue Reading

Whether you call Beaumont home or are planning your first visit to this Texas gem, summer here is a season you definitely don’t want to miss. The temperatures may be warming up, but Beaumont offers a variety of cool options for distraction, learning and exploration. From outdoor activities to roadside attractions to summer camps and more, adults and kids of all ages will find something to…Continue Reading

The staff of Big Thicket National Preserve invites you to explore the thicket by taking advantage the many ranger-led programs being offered in the months of May, June, July and August 2017. From canoe trips on Village Creek to frog hikes, presentation on the area’s history and night hikes through the thicket, park rangers will offer a variety of free programs this summer. Some programs…Continue Reading

The staff of Big Thicket National Preserve invites everyone to explore the thicket by taking advantage the many ranger-led programs being offered in the months of March, April and May. From canoe trips on the Neches River to a black bear presentation and night hikes through the thicket, park ranger will offer a variety of free programs. Some programs require participants to pre-register, and…Continue Reading

From a new birding video, to the groundbreaking on the Wetlands Education Center, to the Big Sit!, the Beaumont CVB gives you a bird's eye view of Cattail Marsh - what's happening now and what you can expect to see in the near future. "Beaumont and Cattail Marsh have been getting a lot of press this year, recently featured in the January issue of Texas Highways…Continue Reading

From dancing and dining to carnival rides and Cowboys, March in Beaumont is packed with plenty of things to do! Whether your idea of a perfect time is enjoying art or relaxing with the family at an old fashioned movie experience, you don’t have to go far to find fun. We’ve got your Top 10 List of events and experiences for March 2017! Beaumonts Farmers Market Every Saturday 950 Langham…Continue Reading

It’s a question that plagues every family. “What are we going to do?!” There are several new family entertainment options in the Beaumont area and exciting updates to a few favorites! From an escape room adventure to an up close and personal experience with animals, we’ve got great ideas for entertainment in Beaumont and Southeast Texas! Cinemark Tinseltown: Luxury Loungers…Continue Reading

Gator Country’s most well-known resident, Big Tex, is getting ready for his first spring season at the sprawling ranch off Interstate 10 in Beaumont, Texas. And there will be a lot more new things to experience when you make a visit! You may remember, the nearly 1,000 pound gator gained worldwide attention last fall when he was rescued from the Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge in…Continue Reading

Combine great scenery and history with great savings and visit the Big Thicket National Preserve for free during the 10 fee-free days in 2017. The 10 entrance fee-free days for 2017 will be: January 16: Martin Luther King Jr. Day February 20: Presidents Day April 15-16: National Park Week Weekend April 22-23: National Park Week Weekend August 25: National Park Service Birthday…Continue Reading

It’s a new year and the number one resolution for many is to start a new workout routine! Exercising can be as easy at getting out the door and walking or taking up a new hobby. From full-service gyms to smaller studios and even free workout stations around town, here are plenty of options for working out in Beaumont! CrossFit CrossFit style workouts have gotten more popular in recent years.…Continue Reading

Beaumont is home to a new resident and this big guy is getting a lot of attention! A record breaking alligator is now living at Gator Country off of Interstate 10 in Beaumont, Texas. The catch is attracting national attention and thanks to people in the community, he NOW has a new name! “We are the only ones that take alligators out of the wild and give them a place to…Continue Reading

Now that the temperature is starting to cool down and the new Cattail Marsh Scenic Wetlands Boardwalk is officially open, it's time to visit! We've put together this list to help you discover just a few of the ways we recommend you explore this nature oasis. 5 Things to Do at Cattail Marsh: Check off one of 250 bird species from your birding bucket list. Due to the constant water…Continue Reading

The staff of Big Thicket National Preserve invites everyone to explore the thicket by taking advantage the many ranger-led programs being offered in the months of September, October, November and December, 2016. From canoe trips to park clean-up events and night hikes through the thicket, park rangers are offering a variety of free programs this fall. Some programs require participants to…Continue Reading

The Big Thicket Association (BTA) will host the 3rd Annual Neches River Rally on Saturday, September 10 at the LNVA Saltwater Barrier boat launch on Bigner Road in Beaumont, Texas. Come enjoy this very unique paddling experience and help us celebrate the National Parks Centennial in the Big Thicket National Preserve. Event Details 3rd Annual Neches River Rally September 10, 2016…Continue Reading

More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 409 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. On August 25, 2016, the National Park Service turns 100 and Big Thicket National Preserve is hosting a celebration! Event Details: National Park Service Centennial Celebration…Continue Reading

Grab your paddle and get ready to get on the water! Canoeing and kayaking are among the favorite outdoor activities in our area. Beaumont is surrounded by many bodies of water and makes for the perfect place for a beginner paddler or someone who has been around the lake a few times or two. “Kayaking offers a very unique perspective here in Southeast Texas,” said Willie Nelson,…Continue Reading

The Beaumont Convention and Visitors Bureau is pleased to announce the grand opening of the Cattail Marsh Scenic Wetlands boardwalk and viewing platforms. The new boardwalk features two covered platforms providing access to incredible views of the wetlands’ abundant wildlife. The boardwalk stretches 520 feet across the most active habitat within Cattail Marsh; it is eight-feet wide to…Continue Reading

It’s hard to get kids to sit still for an educational lesson, but when the subject is alligators and they’re right at the front of the classroom, parents find their children wide-eyed and rapt with attention. These rare interactions are business as usual at Gator Country, just 20 minutes southwest of downtown Beaumont, where more than 300 alligators sprawl across the 15-acre property.…Continue Reading